KC, I don't have your email address, or would send you some tidbits on diet. Basically, suggest you go through your fridge & pantry and throw out everything that has more than 1 gram of saturated fat and 8 grams of total fat. There are good substitutes now for virtually everything, such as:

HW, did you ever read To Kill a Mockingbird? The judge at the trial chewed cigars. The narrator (a seven year old girl) described how he would start with a whole cigar, and within about an hour or two the cigar would be a tiny stub, then he would spit out the undigested slimy mess. Quite a good description, I thought.

Yeah, I know, HW. We've been eating sort of semi-healthy for awhile. We were doing it while we were taking care of Judy's mom for a few years, and still sort of check the labels, particularly for high sodium. I guess one of our problems is fat - sure do like it. There's nothing like a nice big grilled rib eye with garlic mashed potatoes (made with 1/2 & 1/2 and lots of butter). That's one dinner off the menu now. Anyway, I know I can make some really great meals using low-fat, low-sodium, low-cholesterol ingredients. All it takes is using the right ingredients and judicious use of herbs and spices to add good flavors; and of course a large part of that equation is garlic, wine and olive oil. We can do that.

The very minuet I goes outta' town you pick to get stentified! Glad all came out well Bob ole' buddy. I'll give you a call Sat Morning.

Bern. I've been on the South Beach for over a year...Lost 40 lbs of tummy and now am on
maintenence and consume a bottle of wine daily at lunch. Will vary 1 to 1&1/2 lbs when slipping or with the exta hottle with dinner occassionally. Walk 3 miles every morning. All systems go with total cloresterol of 170 with 110 of that the good stuff. Easy lifestyle for CB and myself. WW

KC, I've always suffered from moderately high cholesteral, Cardiologist sez genes. For many years now we consume skim milk, oats and other fibers, I take fish oil caps, use egg whites for scramblers or omlets when in the mood, exercize average three days a week, consume red meat only 1-2 times a month and that is generally a filet mignon (very lean), visit a fast food chain restaurant 1-2 times a YEAR! (really bad stuff in there), try to eat a salad for lunch with a miniscule of dressing at least 3 times a week and I READ labels. Now I do all this and I still fight the numbers but I don't make them worse. I have a 75%blockage in my M1-A artery, is that the right descript Bucko? Doctors say it started when a drug dealer crushed my chest after an undercover buy. I got knocked down and stomped on which tore the 3rd left rib from the sternum and struck the top of the heart injuring this artery...that's where the blockage is and I have it checked regularly. Do I miss all the fat laden tasties from years and years ago, not really, and whole milk now gags me. Also you'll find that after years of eating better that the rich foods won't agree with your system, if ya know what I mean [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]. It's an adventure but not necessarily a bad one. Thinking about ya pal.

KC, there's nothing wrong with a steak and garlic mashed potatoes meal... just only 1-2 times a month. And find a way to alter your potatoes. I make mine with (don't gag) ff sour cream, small amount 2% milk (NF milk or ff 1/2&1/2 when I have it), Brummel & Brown margarine (made w/yogurt), and sometimes even ICBINB spray. Spice it up w/salt, pepper and garlic... no one knows the difference. Not even dh or his fam.

Mayo, I keep ff Kraft around. Very good. Margarine, like I said about, Brummel & Brown and ICBINB spray. Sour Cream is the ff kind in the cow print tub. I even use Harry & David sugar-free jams. As far as eggs go, try using mostly egg whites. Most people can't stomach the egg-beaters.

Splenda- well, I know we've discussed this b/4 about Marinara sauces. I use it in everything.

Nothing better than EVOO- don't bother switching!!

Fiber- read the packages. You'll find that WW brand products up the fiber and protein content. I know you like Kashi brand. Search out their bars. Some good fiber/protein content, some not so good. Orowheat has some good choices for breads.

Dannon or Yoplait make a decent yogurt, I believe it's called "Fit n Fiber".

Well he got 6 years but only did three and how did I find out? My wife and I, with friends from Boston, were in the "Horse you came in on" tavern in Baltimore's historic Fells Point one Thanksgiving Eve and I saw him in the crowd. He was so trashed that he looked at me and right thru me, never recognized me...we had to leave for fear that I might do something stupid and loose my job.